Brussels, Saturday 10 December 2022 – The investiture ceremony of the new Constantinian Knights took place at the Church of St Jacques-sur-Coudenberg under the presidency of His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Grand Master, in companionship of Dr. Giampaolo Grazian, Secretary General.
In the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Laurent of Belgium, Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order, the rite of the Pontifical Holy Mass was celebrated.
The Celebrant was the Most Rev. Father Frédéric Testaert, O. Praem., Abbot of Postel and concelebrants were Monsignor Hrvoje Škrlec, chargé d’affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature to the European Union, Monsignor Eric Soviguidi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to UNESCO and the Reverend Robrecht Boone, Representative of the Holy See of the International Committee of Military Medicine.
His Serene Highness Prince Charles-Louis d’Arenberg, Delegate of Belgium, Knight Grand Cross of Justice, assisted by Consul-General Gunnar Riebs, Vice-Delegate of Belgium, Knight Grand Cross of Merit, welcomed all the distinguished guests; among them the families of the deceased Knights during the last year.
H.R.H. the Grand Master proceeded to the delivery of the decorations: Vice-admiral Dario Giacomin, Knight grand officer of Merit; Baron Henry d’Anethan, Knight of Justice; Prof. Dr. Werner-Édouard de Saeger van Nattenhaesdonck, Knight Officer of Merit and Knight of Merit to Prof. Dr. Kim Christiaens and Dr. Jean-Baptiste Belge. H.R.H. the Duke of Castro also promoted to the rank of Knight Grand cross of Merit Prof. Dr. Hugo Vandenberghe , honorary vice-president of the Belgian Senate.
After the religious ceremony, all the Knights and other guests took part in a formal diner in the Brussels ‘Cercle Royal du Parc.’